KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - Thai ambassador Surapong Posavanond called on Sept. 9

for a free flow of labor among the six member countries of the Association of Southeast

Asian Nations.

Such a flow would ensure that the region remains competitive with the industrialized

countries, Surapong said

"The freedom of mobility is vital since it will enable ASEAN countries to pool

their resources to reap the economies of scale," he said.